"When we saw it, everyone was screaming and shouting. It is like we have won the lottery."

Dressed in team colours, her son gave a thumbs up after the match, and told of his 'amazing' experience as the Stadium of Light stood to applaud him, before both sets of fans sang his name during Everton's 3-0 victory on Monday. "I got to meet Jermain Defoe, who’s my favourite," he said. "Everyone said my name. Thank you everyone.”

He had just been to hospital for treatment when he appeared before a rapturous crowd. Everton's extraordinary gesture took fundraising to £700,000, and means Bradley can travel from his home in Blackhall Colliery, Co Durham for anti-body treatment in New York.

Little Bradley was all smiles as he led out Sunderland ahead of their clash with Everton on Monday (Image: Getty)

NHS health worker Gemma added: "We have now put the money down for treatment, but the fundraising definitely needs to go on.

"If it turns out Bradley doesn't need the money that gets fundraised, it will be given to someone else who needs it."

Bradley was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2013. After two-years of "gruelling" chemotherapy he was effectively free of cancer and, for 18 months, was a "normal boy enjoying his life".

But in June the cancer returned. "In the UK we can get him chemotherapy but the neuroblastoma would come back," explained Gemma, 33. "The anti-body treatment would hopefully prevent it from returning so that is our best chance of him surviving."

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Everton won praise from around the world for their gesture, announced via Twitter. The club said: "We pledged a donation of £200,000 to support @Bradleysfight in his brave battle. We wish Bradley every success and he has the love and support of every Evertonian.

"The club will also be inviting Bradley and his family to the return game at Goodison Park and the players' signed shirts from tonight's game will be auctioned off to support the fund." Manager Ronald Koeman Tweeted: "Well done chairman."

Gemma and builder Carl, who also have a son, Kieran, 13, were given VIP treatment before and after the game. Gemma joked: "Bradley was hanging out of the window saying 'hello Sunderland'."

The five-year-old will travel to the States to undergo anti-body treatment (Image: Getty)

"He got to meet the players who were lovely to him. They said they should be getting his autograph."

High risk neuroblastoma, a form of cancer which attacks the nervous system, has up to an 80 per cent relapse rate. But there is no available relapse treatment in the UK.

Following operations to remove tumours, Bradley had chemotherapy then in December 2014 the family were delighted to be told he was in remission, but Gemma was 'devastated' when it returned.

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She said: “When I tell him about coming into hospital and explain everything he just does it. This time when I said we were coming back he asked ‘why do I have to go to hospital; why can’t I go to school and play with my friends?’ He absolutely loves school.